Corn harvester



June 16, 1931. w. A. GIERMANN 1,810,600

CORN HARVESTER Filed Aug. 21, 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet l W/LHELM ,4. GlRMrq v I d I r I un 16, 1931: w. A. GIERMANN 1 1 0 CORN HARVESTEIR Filed Aug. 21, 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 awe/whom j I I V I Elm mega;

June 16, 1931. w. A. GIERMANN 1,810,600

com: HARVESTER Filed Aug. 21, 1929 7 sheets-sheet 3 attomup.

June 16, 1931.

W. A. GIERMANN CORN HARVESTER Filed Aug. 21, 1929 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 16, 1931. -w. A. GIERMANN CORN HARVESTER '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Aug. 21, 1929 N KN Mr k m June 16, 1931; 'w. A. GIERMIANNIQ CORN HARVESTER Filed Aug. '21. 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 grwcm fm I I (litooueuo.

. Patenteclilune 1 931 I v I p p if i ew jr-Aras WILVHELMIYA. GIERMANN, OF, QNAWA, IOWA .conn nanvns'rnn j I p Application'filed August 21, l929 f 'ise rial No.l387,544j.1

This invention relates to a machine for harpartly in elevation of the snapping mechav vesting corn,- one of theobjects being to pronlsm, the section being taken on the line vide a harvesteradapted to be drawn along 11'11, Figure Q. rows of standing corn and, after severing the F igure 12 is an enlarged section 011 line stalks, operating to convey the stalks to snap- 12"12,Figure2. v 55 ping and husking mechanisms fromwhich Figure 13 is a sectio on line 13 13, Figthe husked corn will-be directed to deliverure 6. 3 ing mechanism. 1 Figure is a perspective View of a'por- Another object is to provide a means for tion of the mechanism used for actuating the '1 directing leaning'and fallen stalks into the cutter bar. I '60 machine. Figure '15 is a perspective view of a portion A still furtherobject is to provide a novel of the mechanism used for raising and lowera mechanism for gathering loose ears or stalks ingthelfront end of the harvester.

from the ground and directing them into the "Figure 16 is a perpective view of a portion machine from the rear thereo p of the mechanism employed for gathering 65 A further object is to provide a machine of material from thejgroun'd at the rear ofzt'he this character that can'be propelled readily, machine. v l the power required for. driving the various Referringto the; figures by characters of parts thereof being received from the main reference, Idesignates the axle of the machine supporting Wheels. to which are securedithe combined supporting i details of construction hereinafter described wheel from slipping.

i Figure 2 is an elevation of one side thereof. the frame has a. forwardly extended tongue With the foregoingand' other objects in and driving wheels Qwhich, as'shown, may be view which will appear as the description formed with annular openings v3 across which proceeds, the invention resides in the combiare extended plates 4 adapted to bite intothe nation and arrangement of parts and in the surface of" the ground so asto prevent the 7 f 5 and claimed, itbeing understood that changes Each of the wheels 2 is m 'unted for rotain the precise embodiment'of the invention tion'on the axle land. has secured to ita herein disclosed may be made within the large sprocket/5 for transmitting motion scope of what is claimed without departing through a chain to mechanism hereinafter 30 from the spirit of the invention. described." r In the accompanying drawings the pre- Axle 1' has a main frame 6 mounted thereferred form of the invention has been shown. on, this frame being of any desired propor- Insaid-drawin'gs, Y tions and material suitableforholdingthe Figure 1 is top plan view of the machine. several parts of the mechanism. 'At one side 5 Figure13 is an elevation of the other side 7 to the rear portionof which ispivotally conther'eof. r I 1 nectedtheforkedrear end8of a. draft tongue. Figure 4 is a front elevation; 9. Thisdraft tongue is adapted to be hitched Figure 5 is a section through aportion o to a tractor or other propelling means andthe machine on line 5'5, Figure 1. has an operating lever 10- fulcrumed thereon.

' Figure 6 is-an enlarged section on line 66, One arm of this lever is connected by a link Figure 2. I I r 11 to the tongue 7 while the other arm carries Figure 7 is'a plan view of the cutter bar a dog 12 or. the like adapted to engage a H and adjacent parts. .7 v 1 Y toothed segment'13rm-ounted on the draft Figure 8 is a section on line 88, Figure 7 tongue 9. This construction has been illus- Figure 9 is a section on line 99,-Figure 1. trated clearlyzin Figures 3 and 15.

Figure 10 is an enlarged section through a It will be noted that when lever 10 is swung portion of the machine taken on line 10-10, rearwardly the lowerarm thereof will thrust Figure 1. through, link 11 while theffulcruin'l'tiof the Figure 11 is a view partly insection and lever Will swing downwardly. f Thisiwill re.-

sult in the elevation of tongue 7 relative to the draft tongue 9 and consequent elevation of the forward end of the main frame 6. By reversing the movement of the lever the front end of the main frame 6 will be lowered. The parts can of course be held in any position to which they may be shifted by allowing dog 12 to engage the toothed segment 13.

Connected to the front portion of the main frame 6 adjacent that side remote from the tongue 7 are guide strips 15 the forward ends of which diverge to constitute gathering fingers l6. Suitable braces 17 can be extended from the front portion of the main frame 6 to the forward end portions of the fingers.

lLaterally spaced boards 18 are mounted at theirlower ends'on the forward'end portions of the fingers 16 and are inclined upwardly er the inner edges thereof and act as shields to properlyguide stocks into the spaces between the boards 20 and the boards 18.

It will be noted that the boards 20 are inclinedupwardlyand laterally, their inner side edges being below the level of the outer side edges. To the forward portion of the outer' edges of the boards 20 are secured laterally and downwardly'rounded shields 23 which act to lift inclined stalks in the paths thereof and guide them over the forward ends. of the plates 22. 'The plates 22 will prevent the apparatus from slipping. stalks adjacent to the gathering mechanisnn .The plates 22 which form the noses of the gathering boards 18 and 20 can be raised or lowered so as to be supported at any desired distance from the ground, this adjustment being effectedby manipulating lever 10as heretofore explained.

Journaled in the boards 18 are upper-shafts 24 and lower shafts 25 and between these shafts at the angles formed by the inner edges of. the boardslS are idler wheels 26. On shafts 24 and 25 aremountedsprockets 27 and the. sprockets on each board 18 engage an endless chain 28 having laterally extending gathering fingers 29. The chains above the two boards 18 are so positioned that the fingers on each chain will travel directly opposite to the fingers on the opposed .chain, these chains moving upwardly so that the fingers, bridging thespace between the boards 18, willsupport the stalks in upstanding position as the machine moves forwardly.

The rearward travel of the fingers 29 within the space between boards 18 will be at substantially the same speed as the forward travel of the machine. I

Each of the upper shafts 21 has a gear 30 secured to the lower end thereof and meshing with another gear 31 secured to a transverse shaft 32. One of these shafts is provided for each shaft 24 and while the shafts 32 are in alinement, they are also spaced apart so as to allow stalks to pass freely between them. 7 I

A sprocket 33 is secured to the outer end portion of each shaft 32 and is adapted to receive motion through a chain 3% from another sprocket35 secured to a countershaft 36. This countershaft, which is journaled in suitable standards 36' provided therefor on .the main frame 6, has-a sprocket 37 located beneath and adapted to be driven by the lower flight of an endless chain 38.

The chain 38 constitutes a means for transmittingmotion from a sprocket v39 on a main countershaft 10 to a sprocket 41 secured to a crank shaft 1-2 supported above the main frame adjacent one side of the gathering mechanism. The crank arm 43 of this shaft is connected by a pitman at to a bell crank 45 one arm of which is connected by a pitman 16 to a cutter bar 17. This cutter bar is mounted for reciprocatlon within gu1des'48 suitably located adjacent the front of the frame 6. The cutter bar has a blade 49 extending forwardly therefrom, the side edges of this blade converging forwardly and being sharpened. Stationary blades 50 are secured to the guide strips 15 and extend under the cutter bar, and the parts are so positioned that, when the cutter bar 4 7 is reciprocated by the mechanism provided therefor, the

blade 19 will reciprocate across the space 51 betweenthe stationary blades 50, thereby severing any standing stalks that may have been guided into said space 51. In this connection attention is directed to the disclosure in Figure 7. The operating mechanism for the cutter bar has been illustrated in detail in Figure .14. p

The main countershaft 40 is ournaled on the main frame 6 and'ex tends back. of the wheels 2. Secured to this main counter-shaft near each end thereofiis a clutch member 52 mounted to slide on but rotate with the shaft. A lever 53 may be used for shifting the clutch member in one direction against the action of a spring 54:. This spring serves to hold the clutch ,member'normally in engagement with the hub 55 of sprocket 56 that is rotatably mounted on shaft 40. Said sprocket is adapt ed to receive motion through aichain 57 from theadjacent sprocket 5.

A toothed segment 58 may beprovlded for lever 53 and a dog 59 carried by said lever may-be employed for engaging the segment to hold the lever in anypositionto which it mightbe adjusted. When the lever is moved to one position the clutchmember 52 will be disengagedfrom sprocket 56 so that. forward movement of the machine will not result in actuation of the main'countershaft 40. However, when lever, 53 is moved in the opposite direction, the clutch member will couple sprocket 56 tothe main c-ountcr'shaft .lOand this will cause said main countershaft to ro- Y tate when the machine is moved forwardly.

7 its sprocket be retarded, as during; the turning of the machine, it will be possible for the sprocket 56and the clutchmember 52 to have arelative rotation to compensate for the difference in the speed of rotation of sprocket 56 and the main countershaft 40.

An upstanding yoke 60. is secured on the main frame adjacent one side thereof and e):- tends-under and is secured to an intermediate portion of an elevatorframe 61. This frame is inclined upwardly and rearwardly and its lower portion is mounted on the transverse or countershaft 36. On" shaft 36 is mounted an endless conveyor '62 the upper portion of which is mounted on a transverse shaft 63 mounted inbearings 64E. Thesebearings are adjustable by means of threaded stems 165 projecting therefrom through-"blocks 66 on the sides of the elevator frame 61, .Thus it is possible to shift the shaft 63, toward or from the shaft 36 jto loosen or. to tighten the elevator.

Forv the purpose of collecting fallen ears and stalks over which the machine has passed withoutgathering them onto the elevator, a novel me chanismhas been provided up on the rear portion of the machine. This mechanism includes the frame 67 ofa supplemental elevator; Said frame is pivotally mounted ata point between its ends, as shown at 68, and :has a transverse shaft 69 j ournaled in the upper portion thereof while another. transverse shaft 7 Q is journaled in the lower porlSlOIl; t V

Mounted on the shafts 69 and 70 is a conveyor madeup of, endless chains connected bytransverse slats 72. This conveyor is adapted to drag materialupwardly along a plate 73 the upper portion of which is perforatedas indicated at 74 to form a screen through which dirt can fall and thus be separated fromthe other material being conveyed. o V The upper end portion of the endless coni Veyor is adapted to deliver material into a spout;75 which, inturn, directs said ma terial on tothe elevator 62 heretofore described, v I

I The shaft 69ihas a sprocket 76 to which motion is transmitted through a chain 77 from r a sprocket 78 secured to the shaft 40.

' Pivotally conn'ected'to andextendingrearwardly fromthe lowerend-portion ;of the elevator frame 67 is a plate 7 9 having an apron 80 extending forwardly and upwardly from the rearedgethereof sofas-to overhang the lower portion of the elevator 71 72.

Standards 81 are extended upwardly from the upper portion of thejframe 67"and joure naled therein-is a shaft 82 adapted to" be driven by chain and sprocket mechanism 83 from the shaft 69. Shaft 82'is provided with a crank 8 f engaged by one end of a beam 85.

T0 the'lower end of this beam are connected ,rake tines 86. A 'mde loop 87 is secured to the beam 85 at a point between its ends and this loop slidably engages a yoke 88 that is pivotally connected to and extends upwardly from the sides of the frame67. Obviously when the shaft 82 is rotated in a clockwise direction itwill pullthe beam 85 upwardlyand forwardly andcause the tines 86 to draw material along the. ground onto the guideplate or apron 80 and thence to a point above theconveyor in frame 67. During this movement the rear portionof the guide bracket 87 will, come against the' pivoted yoke 88 and cause said yoketo swing upwardly andforwardly withthe result that the beam will be elevated so as to lift the tines 86.,out ofengagement with the material being drawi' 'thereby. During the continued rotation of the crank 84 the beam 85 will be thrust rearwardly and-engage material back of the elevator so that when the tines 86 again move forwardlythis material will be drawn bythemonto theelevator. n J A supplementalmechanism has been provided for directing loose material laterally into a roll where it can be collected by the rake tines 86.1 Thismechanism includes an obliquely disposed crank shaft 89 located adjacentthe, inner side of the elevatorframe 67. On each crank of this shaft is pivotally mounted a shankQO provided at its lower end' with. a brush 91 composedcof a plurality of downwardly extending fingers;

g The shank is pivotedonthe crankat a point between its ends and its upper end is connected by a link 92to a fixed member 93 shaft of-gear 96 and is adaptedto receive V motion through a chain 100from a sprocket 101 on the main countershaft 40. 7 Thus fro,-

tation of shaft 40 will result in the transmission of motion to the'obliquely disposed crank shaft 89 and the shanks 90 will be caused to" swing with a sweeping motion whereby materials on the ground in the path of thefingers 91 will be shifted laterally into a roll from which theycan be gathered by the rake tines 86.

going mechanism, separate means for snap ping the ears and for husking them. The snapping mechanism is located above the upper end of the elevator 62 while the husking mechanism is arranged below the snapping mechanism.

The frame 61 is extended upwardly and rearwardly beyond the elevator 62 and sup ports a shaft 102 to which is secured a snapping roll 103.

Another snapping roll 104 preferably provided with outwardly extending ear-engaging -devices 105 is carried by shaft 106 supported in the sides of a frame 107 that is pivotally connected at 108 to small standards 109 projecting from the sides of the frame 61. Bolts 110 are extended upwardly from the upper end portion of frame 61 and are slidably engaged by the sides of the pivoted frame 107.

The bolts 110 carry springs 111 that can be adjusted by means of nuts 112. 'By means of these springs the snapping roll 104 is normally pressed yieldingly against the roll-1'03.

A sprocket 113 is carried by the shaft 106 while another sprocket 114 is carried by the shaft 102.

A lower deflecting plate 115 is supported by the sides of frame 61 close to and directly in front of the roll 103 while supported by the pivoted frame 107 in front of the roll 104 is a deflecting hood 116 having a shield 117 extending downwardly in front of roll 104 and toward the deflecting plate 115.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that when the severed stalks are conveyed upwardly head first toward the snapping rolls, said stalks will be guided by the plates 115 and 117 so as to pass between the rolls 103 and 104. The rolls are driven in opposite directions respectively by mechanism hereinafter described and will act to detach the ears from the stalks. Thedetached ears will drop between roll 103 and plate 115 on to a lower deflecting plate 118 that extends downwardly from the upper end of frame 61 to the husking mechanism. i

' Secured to and extending rearwardly from the sides of the frame 61 is a stationary supplemental frame 119 in which is journaled a shaft 120 carrying a husking roll 121. Standards'122 extend from the sides of frame 119 and to these standards is attached a pivoted frame 123 carrying the upper husking roll 124. Bolts 125 extend upwardly from the rear end of frame 119 and are loosely engaged by the pivoted frame123. Springs 126 are mounted on these bolts and thrust downwardly on the frame 123 so as to cause the upper roll 124 to press yieldingly toward the roll 121.

1 Frame 119 is supported in part by arms or hangers 127 that extend downwardly fro the deflecting plate 118.

A sprocket 128 is secured to and rotates with the shaft of the upper husking roll,124 and-anothersprocket 129 is secured to and rotates with the shaft 120 on whichthe lower husking roll is mounted. A sprocket 130 is adapted to rotate'with the main countershaft 40 and serves totransmit motion through an endless chain 131 to the several sprockets 113, 114, 128, and 129. This chain extends between the sprockets 113 and 114 and also between the sprockets 128 and 129. Consequently the two snapping rolls 104 and 103 will be driven positively in opposite directions respectively while at the same time the two husking rolls 121 and 124 will also be rotated in opposite directions.

Ears delivered from the snapping'rolls will be directed downwardly by the deflecting plates 115 and 118 onto a table 132. This table is inclined downwardly toward the space between the rolls 121 and 124.

A delivering chute 133 has its upper end supported under the husking rolls 121 and 124 and is inclined downwardly and laterally so as to deliver the husked cars into the lower portion of a delivering elevator. This may consist of a frame 134 pivotally mounted at its lower end in the rear portion of the main frame 6, as shown at 135, and adapted to be supported in an inclined position by means of guy rods 136 or, any other means provided for that purpose. Frame 134 may contain an endless conveyor 137 adapted to be driven by a lower shaft 138. As shown particularly in Figure 5 this shaft has a gear 139 meshing with a gear 140. Chain and sprocket mechanism 141 is provided for transmitting motion from the main countershaft 40 to the gear 140 and thence to gear 139 and shaft 138. Thus the elevator 137 will be'driven in the proper direction.

The upper end of the conveyor 137 is mounted on a shaft 142 adapted to be driven by the conveyor. By means of gears and shafts indicated generally at'143 in Figure 2, motion may be transmitted from shaft 142 to a sprocket 144 located at one side of the upper end of an outlet'chute 145. This chute is extended under the upper end of the elevator frame 134 and is adapted to receive material delivered from the elevator 137 carried by said frame. The chute 145' can be adjusted angularly relative to the :frame 134 by means of a lever '146which, as shown in'Figure 4,1 has an arm 147 connected to-the chute 1&5v by a link 1 18; A toothed-segment 1 19 can cooperate with a dog 150 on lever 146 for the purpose of holdingithe chute 145 at any angle to which it might be adjusted i If desired anendless conveyor 151 can be niountedin thechute 145', the same being driven by chain and sprocket mechanism 152' receiving motion from the sprocket 14A.- 0bviously any other means can be used forthis purpose, if desired. i i V A hood 153 can be extended over the up-' per end of the frame 134 for the purpose of.

deflecting elevated material downwardly into the chute 145 and onto the conveyor 151.

Movement of material alongv the chute. 133 may be expedited by arranging an endless conveyor 15 in said chute, this conveyor being driven by gear and shaft mechanism I indicated generally at 155, the said mechapoints.

The operation of the machine appears to be clearly apparent from the foregoing description. When the machine moves" forwardly the standing stalks will be received between the noses L2 and be maintained in upstanding positions by the rearwardly moving fingers 29 on the chain'28. When the cutting mechanism reaches the stalks, said stalks will be severed between the blades 49and Y50 and the severed stalks will fall rearwardly on to the elevator 62 which will convey them upwardly head first. Theupper ends of the stalks will pass between the snapping rolls 10 i and 103'and while the stalks are delivered ,rearwardlyfrom between theserollsQthe ears will be severed and delivered downwardly on to the table 132. From this table the ears will be fed to the husking rolls 121 and 12 1. These rolls can be of any desired construction suitable for removing husks and for-"moving the husked ears longitudinally of the .rolls. The husks will be delivered rearwardly from the rolls while the ears will be delivered from the ends of the rolls onto the conveyor in the chute 133. They will then be carried laterally to the lower portion of the elevator 137 This .will carry them upwardly to the delivery chute 145 from which they will be directed into a wagon or other structure pro-v. vided therefor. i r

rial that might fail to enter the. machine: throughthe gatheringmeans will be brushed? laterally into a row bythe fingers 91so that the oscillating and reciprocating rake tines'86 will gather this material anddrag it onto the, elevator in frame 67. Thus this materialthat, would otherwise be wasted" will be conveyed upwardly and directed onto the elevator V62 scam to beproperly fed to the snapping and:

husking means. i f

'VVha'tis claimed is: Y p

1. In acorn harvesterthe combinationwith forwardly extending stalk-gathering and severing means, of an elevator for receiving the stalks from said means, and mecha-nis'm at As has already been explained, any mate the rear of the machine for gatheringfloose material from theground over which the ma; chme haspassed and directing; it to;said conveyor. 1

i 2; .A corn'ha rvester including a'gathering means, a conveyor, means forlsevering gathered stalks ,anddepositin gthem on the iconveyor,jmeans operatingat the rear of-thel machine for gatheringiloose material passed by the gathering means, andmechanismfor" conveyingthe' gathered loose materialgto the conveyor. 1-

3. A corn harvester including iga'thering and' c-utting' mechanisms, c a conveyori for receiving severed stalks from saidimechanism's; a:rakeoperating in thefrear of the machine,- means for actuating the rake to" collect ma:-

. terial from the ground, and means .f0I.1CO-I1if Veying the'collected material'toi the conveyor.

' 4E. A corn harvester including gathering; and cutting mechanismsyan elavat'orfor receivingxzmaterial from said mechanisms a' rake mounted for ,reciprocation 'inthe rear of themachinameans for directing into the; path of the rake loosematerial. passed by the 'gatheringmechanism. and means forconveye ing material from the rake to thetelevatorn 1 ;5.- .A Scorn harvester lncludlng gathering and cutting mechanisms;- angelevatorfor re ceiving severed stalks therefrom, a movable rakesupported back of the machine, means for actuating the rake, thereby. to engageloose material passed by the gathering'mech-r anism and moveit forwardly relative tolt'he: machine, and f means: for. '1 conducting 1" saidmaterial from the rake to the;elevator. 6. A ,corn harvester includinggathermg and cuttlng mechanisms, an elevator for ireceiving'severed stalks; therefrom',=a rake,

means for reciprocating the rake, means for elevating the rake, duringnportions of its Ire; cip'rocating movement, means for directi-n into the path of the-rake loose materialpassedfi by the gathering means, and means forcon-u veying materialfrom the rake to the elevator-.-- i ,7. Ina corn'sharvester the combination with;

gathering and cutting mechanisms and an elevator for receiving severed'stalks there from, of a mov'ableerake in-the rear of the machine, a pivotedsupplemental frame, ad-

j'ustable means carried thereby for engagev the rake, and means: for conducting 'material from the rake to the elevator. 1

9; In a'corIi harvester the combination with gathering and cutting mechanisms, and an elevator for receiving material therefrom, of a: crank shaft,'ad ustable means for supporting the shaft at a predetermined distance from the ground,- sweepingddevices mounted on and actuated bythecrank shaft for engaging loose material and directing it laterally along the surface of the ground,

and means for engaging said materialan'd conducting it to the elevator;

10.2 In" a" corn harvester the combination With gathering and cutting mechanisms, and

an elevator for receiving material therefrom,

of a crank shaft, adjustable means f-rsup-' porting the 'shaft'at a predetermined distance from the ground, sweeping devices" mounted on and actuated by the crank shaft for engaging loose material and directing it laterally alongthe surface of theground, and means for 'engagingsaid materialiandl con-' ducting it to the elevator, said means includ ing a rake, means for reciprocating the rakeupon the surface'of' the ground; means for raising and'lowering the rake duringits reciprocation, and-means for conveying-material from'therake and'deliveringiit to the elevator;

'11. In a harvester'ithe"combination with an elevator for conveying material upwardly and rearwardly, of an obliquely disposed shaft supported: in rear; of and beneath l the elevator, said shaft having a crank, a shank" pivotally mounted on the crank,meansat thelower end of the shank for-engaging loose material and'directingiit laterally relative to the machine, a link forrestr aining theup per end of the shank, meansforrotating the shafti to lmpart' an oscillation. and up and down movement to" the shank, and meansfo'r gathering the shifted loosematerial and directing it to theelevator.

'12. In a harvester the'combinationi' with an elevator for conveying material upwardly and. rearwardly, of anlobliquely disposed shaftfsupported in rear of and beneath the elevator, said shaft having a crank, a shank pivotally mounted on the crank, means at the lower end of the shank for engaging loose material and directing it laterally relative to the machine, a link for restraining the upper end of the shank, means for rotating the shaft to impart an oscillation and up and down movement to the shank, and means for gathering: the shifted loose material and directing it tothe elevator, said means including a rake mounted for oscillation, means for raising and lowering the rake during the oscillation thereof, and a conveyor for receiving material from therake and directing it to the elevator.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afliXed my signature. 

